People frequently think of the 1980s when they hear the name Phoebe Cates. She immediately became one of the most famous people of her day, whether it was as Kate Beringer in Gremlins or as a character in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. But in the middle of the 1990s, just when her career seemed to be going well, Cates departed Hollywood without making a big deal about it. A lot of people still want to know where she is now.
Childhood and artistic background
On July 16, 1963, Phoebe Belle Cates was born in New York City. Her uncle Joseph Katz worked on Broadway shows, and her family spent a lot of time with creative people like Andy Warhol. Her family was full of artists. She also came from a variety of backgrounds, with Chinese-Filipino and Russian-Jewish forebears. These features made her childhood more diverse in terms of culture.
Cates wanted to be a professional dancer at first. She went to the Professional Children’s School initially, then the Hewitt School, and lastly Juilliard. She had to stop dancing when she was 15 because her knee was hurt so terribly. She went on to become a model, but she admitted she didn’t really like it and largely did it for the money.
Roles in movies that changed the rules
She made her acting debut in the 1982 movie Paradise. She later said that the movie wasn’t her favorite, but it helped her get forward. That year, she became well-known for her role as Linda Barrett in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Cates’ career took off after it. She attended to Private School (1983) and became famous for playing the brave and charming Kate Beringer in Gremlins (1984). She played the same part again in the 1990 sequel. Some other cult classics that became popular were Date with an Angel (1987), Shag (1989), and Drop Dead Fred (1991).
The Stage is Love
Cates used to declare that she liked working in theater more than in Hollywood because she thought the roles for women were better there. She had a number of off-Broadway musicals before she made her Broadway debut with The Tenth Man. She once said that she only felt entirely happy as an actor for a short time, which made her even more clear that she didn’t want to spend her whole life in front of the camera.
She departed Hollywood when her last big movie role, Princess Caraboo, came out in 1994. Cates quickly chose to stop performing, not because she didn’t have any jobs, but because she wanted to. She wanted to spend more time with her family.
She tried out for The Big Chill in 1983 and met Kevin Kline, an actor. They tied the knot in 1989 and had two children: Owen Joseph Kline in 1991 and Greta Simone Kline in 1994. Greta later became a popular independent musician and went by the moniker Frankie Cosmos.
Life After Acting
Cates mostly stayed away from Hollywood, but she would go back every now and again to do tiny projects. Jennifer Jason Leigh, who is also her friend, directed her in The Anniversary Party in 2001. In the 2015 video game Lego Dimensions, she played her Gremlins character again.
Cates became interested in business outside of show business. In 2005, she started a little store called Blue Tree on Madison Avenue in New York City. People in the area love the store that sells books, jewelry, household products, and art.
Where She Is Right Now
Phoebe Cates is in her 50s today and lives a tranquil life away from Hollywood. She has skillfully dealt with her early celebrity while simultaneously having a busy personal life that includes developing her own business, supporting the arts, and raising a family. People who meet her today say she still has the charm and friendliness that made her famous as an actress.
A Memory That Will Last
A lot of renowned people in the entertainment business have trouble with the pressure that comes with being famous, but Phoebe Cates’ story is different. Instead of striving to becoming famous, she selected a new path that focused on family, creativity, and community. People will always remember her for her roles in Gremlins, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, or on stage. She is still a big part of 1980s pop culture.
Her story shows that being in front of the cameras all the time doesn’t always mean you’ll do well. Sometimes, all you need to do is know when to stop and enjoy the small things in life.
